Construct Validity Of Measures Research Articles

A Comparison of Preference-Based, Generic and Disease-Specific Health-Related Quality of Life in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Generic preference-based HRQOL assessments used expressly for economic evaluation have not been examined in pediatric Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The objective was to further assess the construct validity of preference-based HRQOL measures in pediatric IBD by comparing the Child Health Utility 9 Dimensions (CHU9D) and Health Utilities Index (HUI) to the disease-specific IMPACT-III and to the generic PedsQL in children with CD and with UC. The CHU9D, HUI, IMPACT-III and/or PedsQL were administered to Canadian children aged 6 to 18 years with CD and UC. CHU9D total and domain utilities were calculated using adult and youth tariffs. HUI total and attribute utilities were determined for the HUI2 and HUI3. Total scores for IMPACT-III and PedsQL were determined. Spearman correlations were calculated between generic preference-based utilities and the IMPACT-III and PedsQL scores. The questionnaires were administered to 157 children with CD and 73 children with UC. Moderate to strong correlations were observed between the CHU9D, HUI2, HUI3 and the disease-specific IMPACT-III or generic PedsQL. As hypothesized, domains with similar constructs demonstrated stronger correlations, such as the Pain and Well-being domains. While all questionnaires were moderately correlated with the IMPACT-III and PedsQL questionnaires, the CHU9D using youth tariffs and the HUI3 were most strongly correlated and would be suitable choices to generate health utilities for children with CD or UC for the purpose of economic evaluation of treatments in pediatric IBD.

Translation and Validation of Maternal Confidence Questionnaire (MCQ) In Iran: Persian Version

ABSTRACT Objective Mother's confidence is defined as the understanding of the mother of her ability to take care of the child and knowing his/her needs. The Maternal Confidence Questionnaire (MCQ) is designed to measure a mother's confidence in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The aim of this study was to validate a Persian version of the MCQ for Iranian mothers. Design The MCQ was translated into Persian using a forward–backward method. Validity was assessed using face, content, and construct validity measures. Results Based on the result of face validity, all items of the scale are appropriate, clear and relevant for using. Bartlett's test (KMO = 0.92, PV<0.001) demonstrates the appropriateness of using factor analysis for our data set. Also, 53% of total variance has been explained by one-factor CFA model that confirmed by goodness of fit indices; GFI = 0.96, CFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.07 (0.05, 0.09) as well as p-close = 0.040 and the CMIN = 2.2, p<0.001. The scale has excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). Conclusion The Persian version of MCQ showed adequate reliability and validity for measuring maternal confidence in Iranian mothers. This instrument can be used in future studies to assess confidence in mothers with preterm neonates in Iran. Also, this instrument will help neonatal nurses and medical staff to measure confidence in mothers with preterm neonates and accordingly provide supportive interventions.

Good, bad, and beyond: Perils of partialing positive and negative couple variables within individuals.

Partialing correlated predictors to test independent effects is an essential tool in couple research. In actor-partner models, partners' parallel scores are partialed in tests of unique associations with outcomes. Correlated aspects of couple functioning are also often partialed within individuals to examine separate effects. Partialed versions of measures are typically interpreted as assessing the same construct as original unadjusted variables, but in fact their meaning can change. Extending a prior report on changes in construct validity resulting from partialing partners' parallel scores, the present analyses examined effects of partialing measures of positive and negative relationship variables within individuals, specifically perceived support from the partner and relationship conflict. In 300 middle-aged and older couples, we utilized participants' interpersonal circumplex ratings of their partner's typical behavior during marital interactions to compare interpersonal correlates of unadjusted and within-person partialed forms of the Quality of Relationships Inventory Support and Conflict scales. Compared to unadjusted scores, partialed support scores (i.e., adjusted for conflict) were substantially less closely associated with ratings of partner's warmth, and were associated with a less submissive (i.e., less agreeable, cooperative) form of warmth. Compared to unadjusted scores, partialed conflict scores (i.e., adjusted for support) were substantially less closely correlated with ratings of the partner's hostility, and were associated with a more controlling (i.e., critical, coercive) form of hostility. Results were nearly identical for wives and husbands. Partialing correlated scores within individuals can alter the construct validity of relationship measures, suggesting the need for careful reporting and interpretation in couple research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Consistency among common measures of corporate social and sustainability performance

The objective of this study is to thoroughly evaluate and compare three popular databases used in research on the environment, society and governance. Our analysis aims to establish construct validity, and thus addresses the difficulty in choosing which data providers to use for this type of research, and whether findings are comparable across the three databases and applicable to firms in different countries. The most widely used database, referred to as KLD (Kinder, Lydenberg, and Domini), is used to help establish the construct validity of measures coming from the other databases, known as Sustainalytics and Asset4. Frequently used measures from the three databases are highly correlated, and tests of the relationships between composite measures from the databases and financial performance are consistently positive. Even a more focused stakeholder management measure doesn't materially alter the results, suggesting that stakeholder-oriented firms also tend to be socially responsible in ways beyond stakeholder relationships, such as in preserving the environment. We also find that Sustainalytics and Asset4 track substantially more variables and contain many more international firms than KLD, making them more flexible for empirical work on this topic.

The Utility of Natural Language Samples for Assessing Communication and Language in Infants Referred with Early Signs of Autism.

Natural Language Sampling (NLS) offers clear potential for communication and language assessment, where other data might be difficult to interpret. We leveraged existing primary data for 18-month-olds showing early signs of autism, to examine the reliability and concurrent construct validity of NLS-derived measures coded from video-of child language, parent linguistic input, and dyadic balance of communicative interaction-against standardised assessment scores. Using Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT) software and coding conventions, masked coders achieved good-to-excellent inter-rater agreement across all measures. Associations across concurrent measures of analogous constructs suggested strong validity of NLS applied to 6-min videoclips. NLS offers benefits of feasibility and adaptability for validly quantifying emerging skills, and potential for standardisation for clinical use and rigorous research design.

Electromagnetic and climatic foundations of human aggression

Heat is associated with human aggression in field research, assumedly by affecting emotions, but it is not in laboratory experiments. Since this may be so because temperature functions as a proxy for UV radiation in field settings, not in the laboratory, this research tested, across 126 countries, whether temperature loses its predictive capacity when the electromagnetic variable is controlled. Temperature presented null statistical effects when UV radiation was controlled, although it exhibited a tangential contribution in mediation analyses. The results revealed strong direct effects of UV radiation on Van de Vliert and Daan's (2017) aggression composite scores, and strong indirect effects on homicide rate. Economic inequality emerged as a strong mediator related to homicide rate, not to the aggression composite, while steady rain, pathogen prevalence, per capita income and cognitive performance contributed to the explanation of human aggression. These findings suggest that the heat-aggression paradigm has outlived its usefulness and that global warming should not be expected to increase aggression via emotions. Future studies must address UV radiation's effects across routine activity patterns, strengthen the construct validity of measures of aggression, target omitted variables, and confirm the theorized role of testosterone as a mediator using field and, especially, laboratory studies.

Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A)

AimTo evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A). BackgroundPhysical inactivity is a major risk factor for becoming overweight or obese and developing chronic conditions that lead to an increase in mortality globally. Inadequate physical activity (PA) has been a problem among Arabic-speaking populations, including female adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, psychometrically sound measures to assess PA among female adolescents in Saudi Arabia are lacking, indicating that a reliable, valid and feasible self-report measure is urgently needed for use with this young Arabic-speaking population. MethodsA cross-sectional study approved by a university institutional review board was conducted with 383 Saudi female adolescents, 13–18 years of age, who were recruited from 10 all-female public schools in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Physical activity was measured via the PAQ-A, which assesses the level of PA engagement during the school year for 7 days. Internal consistency was estimated. Both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to assess the measure's construct validity and the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess convergent validity. ResultsCronbach's alpha was 0.81, indicating acceptable internal consistency. Item-total correlation coefficients ranged from 0.11 to 0.61. Both EFA and CFA indicated a single-factor. The scale was significantly correlated with other cognitive and affective variables that reflected the physical activity perceptions among the female adolescents, such as enjoyment of PA, PA self-efficacy and social support for PA. ConclusionsThe Arabic version of the PAQ-A is reliable and valid measure for assessing PA among Arabic-speaking female adolescents.

Portuguese Physical Literacy Assessment - Observation (PPLA-O) for adolescents (15-18 years) from grades 10-12: Development and initial validation through item response theory.

Aims of these studies were to develop the Portuguese Physical Literacy Assessment Observation instrument (PPLA-O) to assess the physical and part of the cognitive domain of Physical Literacy (PL) through data collected routinely by Physical Education (PE) teachers; and to assess the construct validity (dimensionality, measurement invariance, and convergent and discriminant validity) and score reliability of one of its modules [Movement Competence, Rules, and Tactics (MCRT)]. Content analysis of the Portuguese PE syllabus and literature review were used for PPLA-O domain identification. Multidimensional Item Response Theory (MIRT) models were used to assess construct validity and reliability, along with bivariate correlations in a sample of 515 Portuguese grade 10-12 students (M age = 16, SD = 1). PPLA-O development resulted in an instrument with two modules: MCRT (22 physical activities) and Health-Related Fitness (HRF; 5 protocols); both assessed with teacher-reported data entered in a spreadsheet. A two correlated dimensions Graded Response Model (Manipulative-based Activities [MA], and Stability-based Activities [SA]) showed best fit to the MCRT data, suggesting measurement invariance across sexes, and adequate to good score reliabilities (MA = .89, and SA = .73). There was a moderate to high correlation (r = .68) between dimensions, and boys had higher scores in both dimensions. Correlations among MCRT scores and HRF variables were similar in magnitude to previous reports in meta-analysis and systematic reviews. PPLA-O is composed of two modules that integrate observational data collected by PE teachers into a common frame of criterion-referenced PL assessment. The HRF module uses data collected through widely validated FITescola® assessment protocols. The MCRT makes use of teacher-reported data collected in a wide range of activities and movement pursuits to measure movement competence and inherent cognitive skills (Tactics and Rules). We also gathered initial evidence supporting construct validity and score reliability of the MCRT module. This highly feasible instrument can provide Portuguese grade 10-12 (15-18 years) PE students with feedback on their PL journey, along with the other instrument of PPLA (PPLA-Questionnaire). Further studies should assess inter and intra-rater reliability and criterion-related validity of its two modules.

To put asunder: Are there perils of partialing in actor-partner interdependence models?

In research on couples, statistical adjustment (i.e., partialing) for correlations between partners' parallel scores is common and useful, as in the actor-partner interdependence model. Original and partialed scores are typically interpreted as assessing the same construct, but this may not be a valid assumption. Other approaches to nonindependence-such as common fate modeling-may better represent some couple constructs. This study of 300 couples utilized participants' interpersonal circumplex ratings of partners' typical behavior during marital interactions to evaluate the interpersonal meaning of unadjusted and partialed forms of the Marital Adjustment Test (MAT), a measure of overall relationship quality, and the Quality of Relationships Inventory-Support (QRI-S) and Conflict (QRI-C) scales, which measured perceived support from and conflict with the partner. After partialing partners' scores, MAT and QRI-S scores were substantially less closely associated with ratings of partners' warmth, their primary expected interpersonal correlates. Partner-partialed QRI-C scores were substantially less closely correlated with ratings of partners' hostility and were associated with a somewhat more controlling form of hostility. In contrast, partialing partners' trait optimism scores resulted in minimal changes in interpersonal correlates of this personality characteristic. Couple-level MAT, QRI-S, and QRI-C variables representing overlapping variance across partners while partialing unshared variance in spouses' scores (i.e., common fate scores) had highly similar interpersonal correlates when compared to unadjusted versions. Potential alterations in construct validity resulting from partialing partners' scores warrant interpretive caution, and alternative analytic frameworks (e.g., the common fate model) may better maintain the construct validity of some dyadic measures. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Playing with temptation: Stopping abilities to chocolate are superior, but also more extensive

Cue-specific inhibitory control is assumed to support balanced food intake, but previous studies with established measures showed inconsistent results. We developed a novel kinematic stop task in virtual reality (VR) and report results from trajectory recordings. The primary objective of this explorative study was to assess the interrelationships between validated measures of food-related inhibitory control and novel measures from the VR task. We hypothesized that healthy female participants show worse inhibitory control when grasping attractive virtual chocolate, compared to non-edible color-and-shape matched objects. We further aimed to quantify the construct validity of kinematic measures (e.g., reaching extent/spatial displacement, movement time after stop-signal, velocity) with established measures of inhibitory control in a keyboard-based adaptive stop-signal task (SST). In total, 79 females with varying levels of chocolate craving participated in an experimental study consisting of self-report questionnaires, subjective chocolate craving, the conventional SST and the kinematic task in VR. Results showed superior stopping ability to chocolate in both tasks. In VR, participants successfully interrupted an initiated approach trajectory but terminated slightly closer to chocolate targets. Stop-signal delay (SSD) was adapted relative to movement onset and appeared later in chocolate trials, during which participants still stopped faster, as was also confirmed by shorter stop-signal reaction time (SSRT) in the conventional task. Yet, SSRT did not correlate with stopping in VR. Moreover, SSRT was related to depressive symptoms whereas measures from VR were related to chocolate craving and subjective hunger. Thus, VR stopping can provide deeper insights into healthy weight individuals’ capacity to inhibit cue-specific approach behavior towards appetitive stimuli in simulated interactions. Furthermore, the results support a multi-faceted view of food-specific inhibitory control and behavioral impulsivity.

The generic conspiracist beliefs scale – 5: A short-form measure of conspiracist ideation

The Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCB-15) is a reliable and valid measure of conspiracist ideation, but it is also inefficient. At 15 items, the GCB-15 can take upwards of four minutes to complete. Here we introduce the GCB-5—a 5-item, short form of the GCB-15. Across five studies, we use self- and informant-report methods to demonstrate that the GCB-5 is a reliable, criterion-valid, and construct-valid measure of conspiracist ideation. In the final study, we further provide evidence that the GCB-5 has promise for addressing novel research questions. Specifically, we show that people high in conspiracist ideation—as assessed by the GCB-5—are more accepting of the use of nuclear weapons and other forms of so-called “virtuous violence” (e.g., anti-abortion legislation).

Laparoscopic Myomectomy Simulation Model for Post-Graduate Learners: Mastering Enucleation

<h3>Study Objective</h3> The objectives of this video are to highlight the fundamentals of laparoscopic myomectomy for postgraduate learners, and to describe a low fidelity simulation model for fibroid enucleation during straight stick laparoscopic myomectomy. <h3>Design</h3> Surgical simulation pilot. <h3>Setting</h3> Surgical simulation lab with use of laparoscopic box trainer. <h3>Patients or Participants</h3> Feedback on the simulation model was obtained from 2 fellowship trained minimally invasive gynecologic attending surgeons (MIGS) and 17 OB/GYN residents evenly distributed across post-graduate year. <h3>Interventions</h3> Using the described model, we assessed user experience and face validity via pre- and post-tests. <h3>Measurements and Main Results</h3> On post-test, 94% of post-graduate learners felt the tactile feedback on the fibroid to be realistic or very realistic. 100% felt starting the plane of enucleation to be realistic or very realistic. 88% felt as though the density of fibroid and number of tenaculum tear-offs was realistic or very realistic. Lastly, 94% of participants felt peeling fibers from the fibroid to be realistic or very realistic. Difficulties with the injection of vasopressin and excess mobility of the uterus during enucleation were cited as points for improvement. After the simulation, 76% felt comfortable or very comfortable with creating the hysterotomy and identifying the correct plane for enucleation as compared to 29% prior. Similarly, 82% of learners felt comfortable or very comfortable with enucleation via traction-counter traction approach as compared to only 35% prior. <h3>Conclusion</h3> This proposed low-fidelity model for laparoscopic myomectomy realistically simulated the fundamental steps of fibroid enucleation and served as a promising method to teach the nuances of haptic feedback on pilot testing. As no historical data is available, in future studies we aim to measure construct validity with predictive validation techniques in a cohort of attending surgeons, MIGS fellows, and OB/GYN residents across several sites.

Validation of motor and functional scales for the evaluation of adult patients with 5q spinal muscular atrophy.

Mos scales currently used to evaluate spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients have only been validated in children. The aim of this study was to assess the construct validity and responsiveness of several outcome measures in adult SMA patients. Patients older than 15 years and followed up in five referral centres for at least 6months, between October 2015 and August 2020, with a motor function scale score (Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded [HFMSE], Revised Upper Limb module [RULM]) were included. Bedside functional scales (Egen Klassification [EK2], Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale [ALSFRS-R]) were also collected when available. Spearman's rho correlations (rs) and Bangdiwala's concordance test (B) were used to evaluate the scales' construct validity. Monthly slopes of change were used to calculate their responsiveness of the scales. The study included 79 SMA patients, followed up for a mean of 16 months. All scales showed strong correlations with each other (rs &gt; 0.70). A floor effect in motor function scales was found in the weakest patients (HFMSE &lt; 5 and RULM &lt; 10), and a ceiling effect was found in stronger patients (HFMSE &gt; 60 and RULM &gt; 35). The ALSFRS-R (B=0.72) showed a strong ability to discriminate between walkers, sitters and non-sitters, and the HFMSE (B=0.86) between walkers and sitters. The responsiveness was low overall, although in treated patients a moderate responsiveness was found for the ALSFRS-R and HFMSE in walkers (0.69 and 0.61, respectively) and for EK2 in sitters (0.65) and non-sitters (0.60). This study shows the validity and limitations of the scales most frequently used to assess adult SMA patients. Overall, bedside functional scales showed some advantages over motor scales, although all showed limited responsiveness.

Validity of an abbreviated Individual Water Insecurity Experiences (IWISE-4) Scale for measuring the prevalence of water insecurity in low- and middle-income countries

Abstract The 12-item Water Insecurity Experiences Scales provide high resolution, cross-context equivalent data on household and individual water insecurity. A 4-item, 1-minute version of the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE-4) Scale has proven useful for understanding the prevalence of household water insecurity experiences when limited resources preclude the use of the HWISE-12 Scale. Herein, we tested the validity of an analogous four-item version of the Individual Water Insecurity Experiences Scale (IWISE-4) for measuring the prevalence of individual water insecurity when limited resources prevent implementation of the IWISE-12 Scale. We used data from adults in 31 low- and middle-income countries (n=43,970) to assess internal consistency, cross-country equivalence, predictive accuracy, and construct validity of the IWISE-4. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the IWISE-4 (range 0–12) predicted individual water insecurity with ≥95% accuracy in every country. An IWISE-4 cut-point of ≥4 provided the closest approximation of water insecurity prevalence as predicted by the IWISE-12 scale (cut-point ≥12), correctly classifying 87.1–98.5% of adults across countries, and was similarly associated with water quality dissatisfaction, a measure of construct validity. Although the IWISE-4 Scale cannot measure the severity of water insecurity, the IWISE-4 provides suitable and cross-country equivalent estimates of the prevalence of individual water insecurity.

Development of new measures to assess household nutrition security, and choice in dietary characteristics

The purpose of this study was to preliminarily develop novel self-administered measures to assess nutrition security and choice in dietary characteristics. Measures were piloted in a convenience sample of households at risk for food insecurity in the United States. The survey included the new measures, construct validation variables (household food security, self-reported general health, and dietary variables), and demographic questions. Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess dimensionality, internal (Cronbach's alpha (CA)), and construct validity were assessed (Spearman's correlation). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess added utility of the new measures beyond food security measurement. Finally, brief screener versions of the full measures were created. Participants in the analytic sample (n = 380) averaged 45 years old, 71% experiencing food insecurity, 42% with high school diploma or less, 78% were women, and racially/ethnically diverse. Scores for the Household Nutrition Security (CA = 0.85; Mean = 2.58 (SD = 0.87)), Household Healthfulness Choice (CA = 0.79; Mean = 2.47 (SD = 0.96)), and Household Dietary Choice (CA = 0.80; Mean = 2.57 (SD = 0.90)) were positively associated with food security (0.401–0.657), general health (0.194–0.290), fruit and vegetable intake frequency (0.240–0.280), and “scratch-cooked” meal intake (0.328–0.350), and negatively associated with “processed” meal intake (−0.162 to −0.234) and an external locus of nutrition control (−0.343 to −0.366). Further, findings show that the new measures are useful for assessing risk for poor dietary and health outcomes even after controlling for household food security status and sample characteristics. These findings are encouraging and support reliability, construct validity, and utility of these new measures. Following further testing, such as Confirmatory Factor Analysis in future samples, these measures may be used in various applications to contribute to a better understanding of households' limitations for accessing healthful foods and foods that meet their preferences.

Translation, adaptation and validation of Nepali version of Rosenberg Self esteem scale in adult Nepali population

BackgroundRosenberg Self-esteem scale has been used in Nepal without adequate psychometric properties. AimThis study aimed to translate and adapt the 10 items Rosenberg Self-esteem scale into the Nepali language and to examine the validity of the Nepali version through exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability in an adult population. MethodWorld Health Organization guideline was followed to translate and adapt the Nepali version of the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale. 330 accompanying adults of patients visiting psychiatry outpatient of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Nepal completed the Nepali version of the questionnaire. Psychometric properties of the scale were determined by measuring construct validity through exploratory factor analysis, estimating internal consistency, and assessing test-retest reliability. ResultPolychoric correlation matrix demonstrated that 37% of item pairs had a correlation coefficient of >0.3. Communalities of most items were >0.200. Factor loading of all items was >0.30 except for item 8. Principal axis factoring and parallel analysis established the two-factor structure of the scale. Cronbach's alpha after deletion of item 8 was 0.711. Item level test-retest reliability showed that 70% of items had moderate reliability. ConclusionNepali Rosenberg self-esteem scale without item 8 is a psychometrically sound tool to assess self-esteem in the adult Nepali population.

A pilot study assessing listening comprehension and reading comprehension in children with down syndrome: Construct validity from a multi-method perspective.

Obtaining valid assessments of language and literacy skills in children with Down syndrome (DS) presents a challenge as there is a paucity of information about the psychometrics of measures that are commonly used to measure listening and reading comprehension in this population. Evaluating the construct validity of measures that employ different methods is essential to ascertain the optimal method of assessment in individuals with DS and with typical developmental histories (TD). This pilot study aimed to evaluate the construct validity of four parallel measures of listening and reading comprehension. Participants included 19 individuals with DS (M = 17 years, 3 months; SD = 3 years, 6 months) and 19 word-level reading-matched children with TD (M = 7 years, 2 months; SD = 7 months). Participants completed norm-referenced assessments for four parallel measures of listening and reading comprehension. The four measurement methods were: (1) non-verbal response, (2) cloze procedure, (3) passage-level with close-ended questions, and (4) passage-level with open-ended questions. Participants completed additional assessments (e.g., cognition, language, and speech) for descriptive purposes. Construct validity was assessed using the Multitrait-Multimethod Matrix, a correlation matrix arranged to facilitate the assessment and interpretation of construct validity of measures across various formats. For both study groups, we observed strong evidence of construct validity for three out of four measurement methods. Results using the multimethod perspective also indicated that the listening and reading comprehension constructs were not separable. The findings from this pilot study represent a first step toward determining optimal methods of listening and reading comprehension assessment for individuals with DS. Additionally, these results can inform outcome measure selection in future language and literacy research with children with DS.

Longitudinal Changes in MRI Muscle Morphometry and Composition in People With Inclusion Body Myositis.

Limited data suggest that quantitative MRI (qMRI) measures have potential to be used as trial outcome measures in sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) and as a noninvasive assessment tool to study sIBM muscle pathologic processes. Our aim was to evaluate changes in muscle structure and composition using a comprehensive multiparameter set of qMRI measures and to assess construct validity and responsiveness of qMRI measures in people with sIBM. This was a prospective observational cohort study with assessments at baseline (n = 30) and 1 year (n = 26). qMRI assessments include thigh muscle volume (TMV), inter/intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), muscle fat fraction (FF), muscle inflammation (T2 relaxation time), IMAT from T2* relaxation (T2*-IMAT), intermuscular connective tissue from T2* relaxation (T2*-IMCT), and muscle macromolecular structure from the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR). Physical performance assessments include sIBM Physical Functioning Assessment (sIFA), 6-minute walk distance, and quantitative muscle testing of the quadriceps. Correlations were assessed using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Responsiveness was assessed using the standardized response mean (SRM). After 1 year, we observed a reduction in TMV (6.8%, p < 0.001) and muscle T2 (6.7%, p = 0.035), an increase in IMAT (9.7%, p < 0.001), FF (11.2%, p = 0.030), connective tissue (22%, p = 0.995), and T2*-IMAT (24%, p < 0.001), and alteration in muscle macromolecular structure (ΔMTR = -26%, p = 0.002). A decrease in muscle T2 correlated with an increase in T2*-IMAT (r = -0.47, p = 0.008). Deposition of connective tissue and IMAT correlated with deterioration in sIFA (r = 0.38, p = 0.032; r = 0.34, p = 0.048; respectively), whereas a decrease in TMV correlated with a decrease in quantitative muscle testing (r = 0.36, p = 0.035). The most responsive qMRI measures were T2*-IMAT (SRM = 1.50), TMV (SRM = -1.23), IMAT (SRM = 1.20), MTR (SRM = -0.83), and T2 relaxation time (SRM = -0.65). Progressive deterioration in muscle quality measured by qMRI is associated with a decline in physical performance. Inflammation may play a role in triggering fat infiltration into muscle. qMRI provides valid and responsive measures that might prove valuable in sIBM experimental trials and assessment of muscle pathologic processes. This study provides Class I evidence that qMRI outcome measures are associated with physical performance measures in patients with sIBM.

The development and validation of an Army team resilience measure

ABSTRACT Given the demanding nature of its mission, the collective units of the Army, not just individual Soldiers, need to be able to withstand and adapt to a wide range of challenges. Therefore, it is important to be able to effectively assess resilience at the team-level and to understand the factors that can enable or diminish it. This article describes the development of a construct valid and psychometrically-sound measure of team resilience – the Team Resilience Scale (TRS). A theoretical framework of team resilience and related constructs is introduced. We then summarize the procedures for developing the TRS and related constructs, providing evidence of the content validity of the TRS. Finally, we assess the psychometric soundness and construct validity of the TRS in two Army field studies. Our analyses support the convergent validity of items and indicate that the measure can be used to examine three first-order dimensions of resilience (i.e., physical, affective, and cognitive) or as a single overall resilience composite. Results show the TRS was positively related to team performance in both samples and it co-varied with stressors and team actions. Practical recommendations for use of the measure and suggestions for future research are offered.

A 2-item version of the Japanese Consultation and Relational Empathy measure: a pilot study using secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey in primary care.

The Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) measure is a patient-reported measure of physician empathy which is widely used internationally. The Japanese version of the CARE measure has very high internal reliability, suggesting that a shorter version may have adequate validity and reliability. To investigate a valid shorter version of the Japanese CARE measure. We conducted a pilot study using secondary analysis of previous data obtained from 9 general practitioners and 252 patients and used to develop the Japanese CARE measure. All 1,023 possible combinations of the Japanese CARE items (n = 1-10) were candidates for the short measure. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and the correlations between candidate short questionnaires and the original questionnaire were calculated. After selecting the most valid short questionnaire, inter-rater reliability was determined using generalizability theory, and construct validity (Spearman's rho) was determined using patient satisfaction. Two items were selected for a pilot shorter version: item 6 "Showing care and compassion" and item 9 "Helping you to take control." These showed high internal consistency and correlations with the 10-item measure (Cronbach's alpha = 0.920, correlation = 0.979). Forty-five questionnaires per doctor allowed us to reliably differentiate between practitioners. The construct validity for the pilot short measure was high (Spearman's rho 0.706, P < 0.001). We generated a pilot 2-item version of the Japanese CARE measure. This pilot 2-item version provides a basis for future validation studies of short CARE measures in other languages.